Vance spouse named AETC Key Spouse of the Year

by Joe B. Wiles
71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

4/2/2014 - VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- For her work with the 3rd Flying Training Squadron, one Team Vance spouse was selected as the 2013 Key Spouse of the Year in Air Education and Training Command.

Sarina Houston will be recognized as the AETC Key Spouse during a Key Spouse appreciation luncheon scheduled for April 10 at the Vance Collocated Club.

The award recognizes the critical role of key spouses in successful mission accomplishment at wing, unit and organizational levels.

"Sarina ... has contributed an incredible amount to the success of the 3rd FTS and our wing," said Col. Darren James, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander. "We are tremendously proud of her accomplishments."

Houston, a Minot, N.D. native, is married to Capt. Jake Houston T-1A Jayhawk instructor pilot with the 3rd FTS, who is currently assigned to the 71st FTW Safety Office.

As a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor, she shares a unique skill set with her husband that gives her a better understanding of the stresses of pilot training. Houston also holds a master's degree in Aeronautical Science, and is a member of Women in Aviation International and the National Association of Flight Instructors.

As the 3rd FTS key spouse, she served as a guide and mentor to the spouses of both the student pilots and permanent party Airmen assigned to the unit.

For Houston, the job had its special rewards.

"When I made a difference to another spouse, whether by a phone call as a show of support during a deployment or by welcoming a new family to Vance, that was a big reward," she said.

"She formed an indispensable lifeline between 57 families and squadron leadership," said Lt. Col. Sean Martin, the 3rd FTS commander.

That lifeline had many facets. Houston revamped the squadron welcome package, mobilized a network of squadron spouses who looked after families of deployed members, and focused on several families needing support at critical times.

Knowing the importance of sharing career milestones, she organized "fini flight" and promotion celebrations for squadron members.

The squadron commander noted in Houston's nomination package the significant impact her "warrior mentality" brought to the critical task of maintaining communications between deployed Airmen and their families and teammates. At least 11 care packages left Vance with Houston's fingerprints on the wrapping.

Not content to just be part of a great team, Houston wrote articles for the base website, www.vance.af.mil, which highlighted individuals and provided guidance to spouses in other flying units here.

Her story writing reflected a talent she also brought to a business of her own.

"I started writing as much as I could and eventually landed a few paid contracts," said Houston. "Before I knew it, I was putting in a lot of hours."

She dived in full-time and her freelance writing business has her working on many different writing projects, mostly aviation-related.

"One of the most difficult things as a key spouse is knowing that people are struggling and not knowing what to do or how to help," said Houston. "There are times when you can't 'fix' a problem on your own -- and you can't always help a person if they don't want help."

Her advice to new key spouses was simple:

"Don't beat yourself up when you can't fix every problem," she said. "Get acquainted with the base helping agencies like the chaplains, counselors and the Airman & Family Readiness Center. They can help when the problems are out of the key spouse realm."

Summing up Houston's importance to the unit, the squadron commander said her many activities in support of unit families and her ability to serve as a mentor enhanced the 3rd FTS's ability to execute the AETC mission.